Instead of making a post for each event, I am going to make one post that lists all the events for the Road Adventures Club. This way you can subscribe to the thread to get event reminders and see post run reports and images in one spot. This is also to make sure we are a good forum supporter by keeping the post clutter down to a minimum and it allows us to post all the disclaimer stuff in one spot.

Disclaimer:
---------------------------------------------
These are pay your own way events. This means even I, the organizer, pays my own way to attend. Organizing drives is my hobby, and I enjoy organizing and hosting events for fellow enthusiasts. I pay for the website and store system out of my own pocket to make sharing information and registering easier on everyone.

Expectations of participants.
---------------------------------------------
Our trail runs are planned around having fun, seeing sites, and traveling specific amounts of mileage per day / event. This means you, the participant, are aware of the miles needing to be covered per day and that you are expected to cover these miles in a reasonable time frame. Our group is NOT a "fly as fast as you can" group, but at the same time we are not a crawler group. We enjoy off roading with all types of trucks/SUVs , therefore the routes and daily mileage requirements are selected with non-modified 4X4 vehicles in mind. By signing up, you understand we ask that when the trail conditions allow, you drive at a safe pace that allows you to cover the terrain / distance as expected by the group.

The first of the 2017 event year starts off with a fun adventure weekend that has an out and back format. Day one we be driving the Fly Geyser / Black Rock Trail. Covering 259 miles of mixed terrain, it will be quite an adventure. The mid-day lunch point includes seeing the Fly Geysers and a fun run down the Black Rock dry lake bed, or as you may know it, Burning Man. On the way back to the hotel, we will also make a stop to see an un-named mine. Sorry, there are no details on it other than it was an old copper mine.

Day two we will head to our poker run 4 area with the emphases on exploring. We will be covering 200 miles of trails and visiting 4 mine sites. This day is meant to be a little more relaxed, with some smoother trails and less adventure trails. Our goal is to be back to Reno by 6:00pm for dinner so people can start to make the trek home.

*Weather note*
With all the wild weather as of late, we have alternate trails planned in case of rain before the event. These trails are more about exploring, with several stops at abandoned mines. We would only use these trails if the event is under threat of rain, in order to avoid a mud fest.

Day 1: March 4 – Black Rock
To start, we will be heading out on a loop north, which will end in Fernley, NV. We decided to get a hotel for this run so that the following day we only have to drive 10 miles rather than 40 miles to get to the trail.

After lunch, we will head along the Black Rock lake bed and then turn to the lake for a fun run down the lake bed to the fuel stop for the day.

Address: NV-447, Gerlach, NV 89412

The last section of the day will be the adventure trail section, which leads up to an abandon copper mine. This section of trail has a lot of tight turns and a few areas where you get to work on your transitions over the terrain. By the end of the day, you will have earned your beer, in a fun way of course.

Dinner for end of Day one will be in Sparks at Mary & Moe's Wigwam. Address: 255 Main St, Fernley, NV 89408

Day 2: March 5

Day two will be an open terrain trail day. We will be headed to four mines to explore the forgotten past of Nevada.

Address: Best Western - 1405 E Newlands Rd, Fernley, NV 89408Time: 7:30am meet up in parking lotDepart: 8:00am to head to trails.

Lunch stop will be around noon at the 3rd mine stop. After exploring the mines, we will have some open terrain trails to explore as we head back towards Reno for dinner. We should be off trail earlier on this day so people can begin to make their way home in the evening.

Dinner Stop for those who wish to join in some local brew’s.Address: Great Basin Brewing - 846 Victorian Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 Time: 6:30pm

For those who have a longer drive home, you are welcome to keep on trekking once we are off trail. The dinner stop is the last planned event stop for this weekend’s adventure.

We are headed south to the Salton Sea for our first Southern California Adventure. This weekend is broken up into two parts. Day 1 is a long trail run that loops around the east side of the lake to see several sights in the area. Day 2 is all about fun and goofing off in the home of desert pre-runners of Ocotillo Wells.

We will be using one hotel as a base of operation to do the out and back trail runs. For those who wish to camp you are welcome to find a place to pitch a tent. For those bring family members who do not want to go on the trails, there will be a group seeing local area attractions for kids and adults alike.

We are headed to the home of the pre-runner. Ocotillo Wells is well known as a place to go have fun and make dust in a Baja 1000 type environment. This day is all about fun and exploring some of the sites of the area. Major stops are a natural arch and an airplane grave yard.

Lunch will be around noon on the trail after we stop at the airplane grave yard. After lunch the loop will head to the old Salton Sea air base to see the old airfield, bunkers and tackle an adventure trail.

With all the wacky weather hitting northern NV, the Black Rock run turned into one EPIC adventure for all those who attended. For those of you who missed it you missed a lot of fun and some adrenaline experiences.

Day 1 started off with wind. And when we say wind, we mean cold, sustained 30-45 mph wind. 20 trucks ranging from Jeep, Tacoma, F350 and Raptor headed off to the trail head 14 miles from the start point. Here the group aired down and wondered what to expect as the ground was snow covered still and there were patches of mud. Luckily the start of the run was manageable and only those who wanted to plow through the mud did so. Soon the group found its first set of obstacles. The rain had washed away large sections of trails leaving canyons the size of school buses.

However, at each challenge the group found a way to pass and kept moving forward. This also included several river type crossings which made for awesome photo ops.

After making it past the first mountain section the group hit the flat lands and could speed up. After making the turn on the long straight away we ran across large puddles. Here is where the trucks all became painted the terrain color. Two of the group got stuck in mud but luckily having a F350 on the group made this recovery a breeze.

After lunch the group hit the longest section to Black Rock Desert. The trail started off fast and fun until it ran across a new lake. Making a slight detour the group was back on track. Exiting out of the valley trails we hit the playa.

The trails were smooth until we hit the run off section. For the next 30 miles, we entered the “technical section”. Here we hit many washouts and section of trail we had to detour to cross as they were again as wide and as deep as a bus. A few trucks got stuck trying to cross these deep sections but recovery each time was quick as we were ready to pull them back just in case.

The last crazy section for day 1 was hitting the playa floor. Blazing along just fine we started to run across softer and softer sections. Radio chatter was HAMMER DOWN to keep power through this soft muck. After a few miles, we found a point where we could get closer to the hill and hard group. All but two trucks were not able to make it up to the safe trail. Once again working smart we were able to pull the two stuck members out in under 10 minutes.

Regrouping off the playa we made the last push to Black Rock and the lake of Burning Man. By the time we reached this location, we were late in the day and aired up to head back to Fernley. This meant we did not completed 65 miles of planned trails of the 220 for the day.

Day 2 started off just as wild with a snow blizzard hitting the group at the hotel. As several people had long drives home, Ό of the group bowed out and the rest made a plan to head to the large mine stop for the day. Driving to Lovelock the group turned west and hit the trails. This 40 mile trek to the mine was some of the best trails of the weekend as they were smooth, had good jumps and whoops as well as were not to snow covered.

The group reached the old mine and did a little exploring just before another snow blizzard hit us. Heading on a different trail, the group headed back for fuel and lunch before calling the event due to conditions.

This event was one wild adventure and even though the trails were not the normal fun runs we enjoy, the challenges it provided made everyone who attended earn their off road stripes.

We are heading back to Area 51 to see if we can find the elusive flying saucers. In 2016, we had the strangest weather with snow, hail, and monsoon rains which lead us to call the event early for safety concerns. This year, we are headed back to finish the trails we started and see if aliens do exist. In addition, we are changing it up and starting and ending in Las Vegas, and we will have many new trails to explore for returning participants. This is a second chance to see Area 51 if you missed the first go around.

Planned Trip Summary:
Starting in Las Vegas, NV, we will head North along the border of the Groom Lake test range, AKA Area 51. Day 1 will be the sightseeing day to make stops at the usual tourists' spots: Little Alie-Inn, and Groom Lake Road Gate, to name a few. There are a few other stops planned for those in attendance to get out and stretch and maybe see a UFO.. or two. The end of the day will be in Tonopah NV for sleep and food.

Day 2 will head back to Las Vegas. Major stops will be at several old mine camps and a stop at Devils Hole.
* Hotels are billed at a group rate with taxes included.
* Whole Foods boxed lunch includes sandwich, pasta salad, fruit, cookie, and soda.
* Subway boxed lunch includes sandwich, chips, fruit, cookie, and soda.

Pre Event - May 18
For those who would like a more relaxed start for the weekends activities, we have arranged a group rate at the Santa Fe Station. This will allow those of you who are coming from a distance to have a place to rest and relax before a weekend on the trail. This is also the starting location for the event

Depart: 7:00am  Head to the start of the trail 30 minutes north and air down.
A drivers meeting will be held in the hotel parking lot to go over the rules of the trail as well as make sure everyone has the required gear. This is also a chance for participants to ask questions and get assistance on any part of trail setup.

Lunch stop will be Little Alie-Inn
Time: `1:00pm

After lunch, we will head out to complete the second leg of the trip to Tonopah to see several old X-plane hangars and petroglyphs.
Overnight Accommodations

Dinner stop  Tonopah Brewing Company  Across from the hotel
Time: `7:00pm dinner meet up

Day 2: May 20 - Back to Las Vegas

Leave from the hotel at 8:00am on the DOT!!!
\
This day has the most mine stops of the trip. We will be covering a lot of miles to get back to Las Vegas and we will need to be efficient with our time.

Lunch stop will be in Beatty, NV
Time: ~ 12:30  1:30
After lunch, we will make the final push to Las Vegas. Stops will be at Devils Hole and a 5 miles blast down a dry lake bed. This day has one of the best trail sections before we head into Las Vegas.